Challenge Blog

Occasionally, the Challenge e-mail will be swamped with very similar claims. One of these is Perpetual Motion Machines.

Most of the time, after the initial e-mail contact is made and a response sent, there is never any further contact with the claimant - presumably because they have not yet constructed the machine.

The intial guidelines for submitting a Perpetual Motion Machine to the Challenge are very simple. The applicant must fulfill all guidelines stated in the Challenge Application, and must, additionally, have the machine built and ready to test prior to applying.

Here is an example of a response e-mail to this claim:

Thank you for your interest in the James Randi Educational Foundation's Million Dollar Challenge.

Yes, a demonstration of a perpetual motion machine would qualify as a Challenge claim. However, the machine must be built and in working order before the application can be accepted.

Thank you again for your interest,

JREF Challenge Desk

Though, in my time at the JREF, I have never seen an actual Perpetual Motion Machine, I have seen a great number of e-mails regarding them. Here are a few that have come in over the past few months, the most recent received on February 3rd.

To Whom It May Concern,

I would like to learn whether a successful demonstration of a Device that can be named a "Perpetual Motion Machine" where it creates more energy than the input would be eligible for the "One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge"

According to Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perpetual_motion a Perpetual Motion would violate the Law of Conservation of Energy thus should be regarded as supernatural.

Perpetual motion usually refers to a device or system that delivers more energy than was put into it. Such a device or system would be in violation of the law of Conservation of Energy, which states that energy can never be created or destroyed, and is therefore deemed impossible by the laws of physics.

Please advise.

Best Regards,

Samil

Hi

Only today did I know about the JRE and the Million $ Challenge .

May I apply with a perpetual motion machine ?

In the §12 of the official rules , you say that the person applying must satisfy two conditions : "have a media presence" and "produce at least one signed document from an academic" .What do you call an "academic" ?

Best regardsGérard

I ain't quite ready yet, but I'm gonna git that million dollars. I took the first step today towards perpetual motion. It ain't perfected (not my model), but it does exist. If you can't see it you're blind, you live in it. Also, if you think 186,000 miles per second is the fastest anything can go, then you're just like Einstien, WRONG (about some things). This all comes from a bigger skeptic than you. Wait a few years you'll hear from me again.

-- Bill

I have a working model of a perpetual motor. I have to work some things out including creating a formula to go on to a full size model, and was looking for help. But it does work. I turn the key on, it starts and continues to run, generating its own power until I turn it off. At first I thought this might be the place, but if you just work with paranormal subjects, then I was incorrect. Since you seem to be in the scientific field, maybe you can direct me as to who I can go to. Thank you for your time.

-- Mike

i don t claim any paranormal, supernatural, or occult power or event. I claim i can build a machine that breaks the law of conservation. how about a bet instead of a prize say 100 to 1 odds for me on a $1 000 000 american bet